Brain Energy Metabolism addresses its challenging subject by presenting diverse technologies allowing for the investigation of brain energy metabolism on different levels of complexity. Model systems are discussed, starting from the reductionist approach like primary cell cultures which allow assessing of the properties and functions of a single brain cell type with many different types of analysis, however, at the expense of neglecting the interaction between cell types in the brain. On the other end, analysis in animals and humans in vivo is discussed, maintaining the full complexity of the tissue and the organism but making high demands on the methods of analysis. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, chapters include the kind of detailed description and key implementation advice that aims to support reproducible results in the lab. Meticulous and authoritative, Brain Energy Metabolism provides an ideal guide for researchers interested in brain energy metabolism with the hope of stimulating more research in this exciting and very important field.

"Brain Energy Metabolism" addresses its challenging subject by presenting diverse technologies allowing for the investigation of brain energy metabolism on different levels of complexity. Model systems are discussed, starting from the reductionist approach like primary cell cultures which allow assessing of the properties and functions of a single brain cell type with many different types of analysis, however, at the expense of neglecting the interaction between cell types in the brain. On the other end, analysis in animals and humans in vivo is discussed, maintaining the full complexity of the tissue and the organism but making high demands on the methods of analysis. Written for the popular "Neuromethods "series, chapters include the kind of detailed description and key implementation advice that aims to support reproducible results in the lab.

Meticulous and authoritative, "Brain Energy Metabolism" provides an ideal guide for researchers interested in brain energy metabolism with the hope of stimulating more research in this exciting and very important field.

The present outline of astrocytic metabolic pathways involved in glucose and amino acid metabolism provides detailed information about the enzymatic pathways involved, as well as a description of the basic properties of the enzymes including regulatory mechanisms. Hence, the glycolytic pathway and glycogen metabolism are outlined, followed by a detailed account of pyruvate oxidation and its role as a substrate for the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Moreover, a detailed description of the main enzymes involved in glutamate metabolism is provided and the role of the glutamate-glutamine cycle is explained. Since this text is primarily covering astrocytic metabolism, an emphasis has been placed on a discussion of the significance of the astrocyte specific enzymes pyruvate carboxylase and glutamine synthetase, which enable these cells to perform a net synthesis of glutamine, the precursor for synthesis of glutamate and -aminobutyrate (GABA), the main neurotransmitters of the brain. With this, we have underlined the fundamental importance of astrocytic metabolism for neuronal function with a particular emphasis on the fact that, without continuous support from the astrocytic partners in synaptic function, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission would not be possible. It is thought provoking that these neurotransmission processes, which account for the vast majority of synaptic activity in the brain, have been made totally dependent on astrocytic metabolic support, particularly with regard to replenishment of the respective neurotransmitters.